We all love good food, and for many, the local food movement is the hottest trend right now. The farm-to-table movement promotes food purchases directly from local farmers. As a farmer, I have some confusion about the term “farm-to-table.” What determines local food? What exactly is farm-to-table? Who are the farm-to-table farmers? Is this a legitimate food movement or is it more to make consumers feel better about their food decisions?

Food Bloggers Conference

This past summer I attended the International Food Bloggers conference in Sacramento, CA. Being in the company of a plethora of foodies, I was a little out of my element. Yes, I love good food just as much as the next person, but I am definitely not a foodie. Not surprising, one of the hot topics at the conference was the farm-to-table movement.

During one of our group dinners, the chef came out and talked to us about the food we were about to eat. He proceeded to tell us details about how he visited Mary’s Farm—the farm where our food originated. He told us how well he knew Mary, how the chickens lived, what they ate and how the chickens had a good life. While it may have comforted the foodies in attendance, I had a different feeling. I felt as a “traditional farmer,” the “know your farmer” movement marginalizes traditional farmers. It made me feel farms like mine are put into a “lower class” of farm. Why? Because we sell our pigs to a meat packer and not directly to the consumer. From many consumers’ perspective, good food can only come from farmers they personally know and my customers don’t know me.Continue Reading